Sequence counter



Sept' 6, 1966 c. J. MALONEY r-:TAL 3,271,563

SEQUENCE COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1963 @0km bmw BY gli@ Sept 6, 1966 c. J. MALQNEY ETAL 3,271,563

SEQUENCE COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1963 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 6, 1966 c. J. MALONEY ETAL 3,271,563

SEQUENCE COUNTER Filed June 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 C005 .XIV/7CH INVENTORS C/ifford J. Maloney Doug/as H. Walker y m @a .//ff/A/ amy l ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,271,563 SEQUENCE COUNTER Clifford J. Maloney and Douglas H. Walker, Satellite Beach, Fla., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed June 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,874 4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-92) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of t-he United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to us of `any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a counter that is capable of separately producing a series of identifying code combinations and transmitting each combination to an external device such as a card punch, a p-aper tape punch, a telegraph circuit, or .any appropriate device.

In the assembling of research data on punched cards, for example, it is necessary to be able to identify the separate cards in some fixed and sequential manner. It may be a straight numbering system or a m-ore elaborate cataloginb system involving groups and sub-groups with arbitrary starting and terminating codes. This sequential identification may be applied to the cards manually, but where large amounts of data are dealt with in large scale research, an automatic means for identifying a series of cards is expedient. Moreover, where the sequencing varies from applicatio-n to application the purchase from the manufacturer of pre-numbered car-ds is awkward.

Thus, .a sequence counter may be used for automatically placing information such as batch, strain, and lot numbers of experimental trials or page and line of reports in selected columns of a Remington Rand card at a rate of about 100 card-s per minute. The changes required to operate the invention in connection with an IBM or other punch are obvious to one skilled in the art, and such use is included in the current invention. This new means of automatically placing information on cards or other media will eliminate the time consuming operation of manually key punching the cards with this information.

The present invention relates to such an automatic card numbering system wherein a sequence counter can be set to begin numbering at a given number and to advance the number for each additional card until a preset terminal number or designation is reached.

This sequence counter was developed to establish numerical codes for the automatic punching of pre-selected, sequential runs of numbers into each of a deck of Remington Rand punch cards. The counter is versa-tile in that identifying numbers of ve digits lor less may be used singly, or `the digit-s may be paired or tripled as desired by the operator.

This is accomplished in an instr-ument that includes a series of five, four pole stepping switches corresponding to the five digits in the identification issued by the machine. In addition there are ve start count switches, one for each of the starting digits and five corresponding stop count switches, one for each of the corresponding stopping digits in the desired series. The necessary interconnections and control switching completes the instrument.

-In the drawings, FIG. l shows a perspective of the outside casing of the instrument, the panel of which shows the operating controls. Of these, the bottom panel holds the general operating and testing controls. The row of ve dial switches next above them enables the operator to set into the device the terminal or stop count digital information. Next above these are the indicator lights that provide a visual code indicator for each integer. Above these, in turn, are the start count setting dial switches and the topmost row of switches serve to determine the mode of interconnection of the five digital positions.

3,27L563 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 ice FIGURES 2 and 3 show the entire wiring diagram of `the apparatus in two halves arranged with FIGURE 2 on the left and FIGURE 3 on the right. In this diagram, the two upper tiers show the third and fourth levels of the live, four pole stepping switches. The next tier shows the second level of the stepping s-witches and the ve start count switches (S3 to S7) followed by the bottom tier which shows the rst level of t-he stepping switches and the stop count switches (S8 to S12). Below these are the series of column interconnecting switches and running and control switches. At the extreme upper portion of the dia-gram and associated with the stepping switches are the output terminals for the five integers in the identification number or code. They are labele-d, A, B, C, D and E output. These are Remington Rand type having six terminals labeled t), 1, `3, 5, 7 and 9. Thus the code for integers 2, 4, 6, and 8 are composed of contacts 1 and 9, 3 and 9, 5 and 9, and 7 and 9 respectively. As these contacts are made on the stepping switches, the corresponding code indicator lights on the front panel light up, a single light for the integers 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 and the two lights for the intermediate numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8. These lights give the operator a visual check on the operation of the counter and are operative when the run, set, check switch is placed in the check position.

The ve digits of output may be combined in a variety of ways. They may be used as tive single numbers if no number exceeds nine. Alternatively, the ve individual outputs may be combined in units of two in any order as desired Where two digit numbers are needed. Another possibility is to group the unit information outputs so that three outputs are combined and the remaining two 'are paired thereby allowing counts up to 999 and 99 respectively. Fewer than ve digits may, of course, be ernployed if the total sequence counter capacity is not needed.

To accomplish this interconnection of columns there are provided a series of column interconnecting switches which appear in the upper tier of FIGURE 1 and as the lower tier of switches in FIGURES 2 and 3. These switches are for the purpose of arranging the individual numbers of the groups of numbers into single, double or triple digit numbers. The combination of columns may be arranged in any of the combination of groupings displayed on the switch name plates. The interconnecting switches arrange for interconnecting the digits where numbers desired are larger than nine. In producing multiple digit numbers, from 10 and up, the unit digit drives the tens digit and the tens digit drives the hundreds digit from the ninth and ninety-ninth pulses respectively. The column interconnecting switches also arrange the circuitry so that when a number in a group goes through its range as determined by the start and stop switches and drives the succeed-ing numbers unit digit, the preceding number is then preset to its home position. This procedure will then continue for all numbers in the group until all the numbers selected by the stop count switches are reached thereby stopping the counter.

To connect column A to B, for instance, the first or left switch in FIGURE 1 is placed in position A-B and the remaining switches in positions C, D, and E respectively.

To connect columns C and D, the rst or left switch (FIGURE l) is placed in position B, the second in position CeD, the third in position C-D, and the fourth in position E. To connect columns B and C, the rst and second switches are both placed in positions B-C, the third switch in D and the fourth switch in position E.

To connect columns D and E, the first switch is in B position, the second in C and the third and fourth switches in D-E positions.

To connect columns AB and DE the several switches are placed in positions AB, C, DE and DE respectively.

Finally, to connect columns A, B, and C on the one hand and DE on the other hand all switches are placed in TH position.

A Remington Rand card punch generates a step pulse and a punch pulse by means of a motor driven cam. The step pulse which occurs rst actuates the stepping switches in the sequence counter land the punch pulse actuates the punching solenoid coils of the card punch. These are standard units and are not shown.

The function selector switch controls the sequence counter for automatic or slave oper-ation by connecting the card punch, power switches, solenoid coils, trip magnet, and output pulses to the sequencecounter.

All pulses are fed to the sequence counter through the interconnecting cables, and the off, automatic, and slave switch. This switch controls the sequence punch so that the cards can be punched either independently or in conjunction with auxiliary data read-out machines. In the latter case, simultaneously as data is being fed to the punch by auxiliary equipment, identification numbers may be placed on the Remington Rand punched cards by the sequence counter.

The position of the start count switches determines the starting position for each of the stepping switches and the rst code transmitted. This position is determined by the second level of the stepping switch, which level is shown adjacent the start count switch in FIGURES 2 and 3. The run, set, and check switch causes the stepping switches to search for their home position by energizing the set relays K5 through K9, thereby connecting power to this second level of the stepping switch, the start count switch, and the normally closed interrupter contacts to the stepping switch coils. When this occurs, the stepping switch continues to step until it opens circuits, thereby interrupting its own power. The third and fourth levels of the same stepping switches are used to establish the Remington Rand numerical code and the punch pulse is fed to the moving arms of this switch level and consequently through the patch panel to the Remington Rand card punch solenoids, constituting ve vertical column outputs.

The stop count switches utilize the rst level of the stepping switches, which level is shown opposite the stop count switches (S8 to S12). When the stepping switches reach the pre-set stop numbers, a pulse is fed4 sequentially through this first level of the stepping switch and the stop count switch of each stepping switch to the stop relay. This relay locks in through its own contacts and deenergizes the run relays. The run relays then break the punch and step pulse circuits to the sequence counter. The latter must then be reset by means of the run, set, check switch in order to deenergize the stop relay and reset the stepping switches so that another series of numbers can be initiated. Placing the run, set, check switch in the check position allows the visual checking of any sequential group of numbers. The pulser switch is used to energize the pulser relay which, due to its time constant, simulates the Remington Rand step pulse and steps the stepping switches manually. By pressing the code switch, the code indicator lamps associated with each of the sequence counter outputs, give a visual indication of the output.

The start switch starts the counter only when the run, set, check switch is in the run position. The stop switch serves to stop the counter by deenergizing the run relays. The feed button may be used to manually feed cards from the Remington Rand card hopper to the punching chamber and to eject the last card from the punching chamber after a group of numbers have been punched.

To operate the machine, the necessary interconnecting cables are attached between the counter`s input connections and the Remington Rand punch. The function selector switch on the punch is moved to serial punch position yafter which the main power switch is turned on in the punch. Next, select the lowest page and line number, or other appropriate factors, and set these values on the stop count setting selector switches. Similarly, select the highest page and line number, or other appropriate factors desired, and set these values on the stop count setting selector switches. Momentarily rotate the run, set, check switch to the set position. This will activate the punch until it finds the start setting position. Then return the switch to the run position. Place a stack of cards in punch and momentarily press the run button. This starts the punch to punching codes in sequence beginning with the start setting and ending with the stop setting.V After the machine 'has stopped running, press the feed button; whereby the last card is fed out of the punch.

We claim:

1. A sequence counter for supplying a sequence of identifying numbers to be impressed on a series of punch cards comprising a series of multiple pole stepping switches in number corresponding to the number of integers in the identifying number, start count switch means for each integer to determine the initial number in the sequential series of numbers, stop count switch means to determine the terminal number in the sequential series of numbers supplied, column interconnecting switch means to enable combining the integers into double and triple integer numbers, switch control means for enabling the counter to be interconnected with and operated with a card punching means, circuit means for interconnecting the several means recited.

2. A sequence counter in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are ve multiple pole stepping switches and five integers in the identifying number.

3. A sequence counter in accordance with claim 1 including light code indicator means .giving a visual indication of the identifying number at any instant.

4. A sequence counter in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stepping switches are four pole and wherein two of said poles are utilized to transmit the identifying number by the counter.

No references cited.

MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Primary Examiner. I. F. MILLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEQUENCE COUNTER FOR SUPPLYING A SEQUENCE OF INDENTIFYING NUMBERS TO BE IMPRESSED ON A SERIES OF PUNCH CARDS COMPRISING A SERIES OF MULTIPLE POLE STEPPING SWITCHES IN NUMBER CORRESPONDING TO THE NUMBER OF INTEGERS IN THE IDENTIFYING NUMBER, START COUNT SWITCH MEANS OF EACH INTEGER TO DETERMINE THE INITIAL NUMBER IN THE SEQUENTIAL SERIES OF NUMBERS, STOP COUNT SWITCH MEANS TO DETERMINE THE TERMINAL NUMBER IN THE SEQUENTIAL SERIES OF NUMBERS SUPPLIED, COLUMN INTERCONNECTING SWITCH MEANS TO ENABLE COMBINING THE INTEGERS INTO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE INTEGER NUMBERS, SWITCH CONTROL MEANS FOR ENABLING THE COUNTER TO BE INTERCONNECTED WITH AND OPERATED WITH A CARD PUNCHING MEANS, CIRCUIT MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING THE SEVERAL MEANS RECITED. 